The Official Journal of The Catfish Study Group (UK)
IN THIS ISSUE
Chaca chaca By Alan Holmes
Corydoras melanotaenia By Mark Bryson
Catfish of Asia Part 2 By Shane Under
Synodontis Galinae By Harro Hieronimus
Volume Number 1 Issue Number 2 June 2000 CONTENTS 1 Committee
2 From the Chair
3 Synodontis galinae by Harro Hieronimus
5 Catfish of Asia Part 2 (Revised) by Shane Linder.
9 Breeding Corydoras melanotaenia by Mark Bryson
12 Meet the Members - lan Fuller Corydoras updates
13. Convention 2000 Report by Claire Dignall Catfish of WW1
17. Chaca chaca by Alan Holmes
19 Meet the Members Dave Speed Poem - Cory Cats
20. Membership List
Dear Members
I would like to thank members for their excel Articles and pictures can be sent by e-mail lent contributions to this issue. Please don't direct to
ACKNOWLEGEMENTS
The photographs submitted with the Chaca Chaca article are by Erwin Schraml. The photo of Hypancistrus zebra (Father and Son) is by courtesy of lngo Seidel.
Front Cover: Designed by Kathy Jinkins. Printed by Chapter 4, South port. C:AI' C:IIAI' Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
HONORARY COMMITTEE FOR THE C:Af'FIJSIIJ Sf'fi8F C80flgJ ffflll}
PRESIDENT LIBRARIAN AND Trevor (JT) Morris AUCTION ORGANISERS Ray & Dave Barton VICE PRESIDENT Dr Peter Burgess FUNCTIONS MANAGER PJ [email protected] Trevor Morris
SOCIAL SECRETARY CHAIRMAN Terry Ward lan Fuller
i. [email protected] WEB SITE MANAGERS Julian Dignal [email protected] VICE CHAIRMAN Allan James [email protected] Danny Blundell COMMITTEE MEMBERS SECRETARY AND TREASURER John Henderson, John Cowan Bill Hurst Peter Liptrot [email protected] [email protected] . uk Steve Pritchard [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY CATERING DEPARTMENT Dave Speed Mr & Mrs Morris and Mr & Mrs Ward [email protected] EDITORIAL TEAM SHOW SECRETARY Ann & Danny Blundell, lan Fuller, Bill Hurst Brain Walsh g.b.w@brianwalsh1 .freeserve.co.uk DISTRIBUTION Ann & Danny Blundell
ASSISTANT SHOW AND TROPHY SECRETARY SCIENTIFIC ADVISER Ann Blundell lsaac lsbrucker
C'A1fC'alA1f The Committee would like to thank the following businesses for their financial support in the production of this journal
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GBWJOINERY PRESTWOOD PETZONE DARWEN STOURBRIDGE C'A'I' C'tiiA'I' Vol 1 No 2 June 2000 From the Chair
Hello everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the first issue of "Cat Chat" lt was pretty hard going to get it ready on time but we made it. They tell me it only gets harder but if all of you contribute a little it should actually become easier. We did however have a slight hiccup with the printing of the information sheets but that problem has now been sorted. I formulate these information sheets and to make sure that the information on them is correct is something that I cannot achieve all on my own. I am appealing to you all again to help me with information on the fishes that you keep, especially any that you may be breeding. Once I have completed a dossier on a species, I can then build up a complete information sheet. Any photographs or breeding information submit ted and used will be accredited to the photographer or breeder.
February: Hans-Georg Evers and lngo After a short break, Allan James, of 'Scot Cat' Seidel, two eminent aquarists/authors from web site fame, was the speaker. With the aid Germany were our speakers at our first An of some excellent slides, he gave us an inter nual Convention. lt just remains for us to re esting account of the running of his fish house peat the success next year. More on the Con and the species of fishes that he keeps and vention inside this issue. breeds . lt is always good to see how another fish house has been set up and the sort of March: This was the first of the Group's bi equipment that is used. annual auctions . Attendance was high with very few seats left for latecomers. Altogether May: The activity for this month was the there were more than twenty lots, some of 'Whiptails' section of the family Loricariidae, which contained a wide variety of items from altogether there were twelve specimens dis rare/unusual Corydoras and Loricariidae to played and it was very obvious why these the humble Guppy . Our auctioneer on this oc fishes are so difficult to identify, There were casion was Joan Davison. One item I feel four Rineloricaria beni, (lngo Seidel had bred needs a special mention and with it our warm these in Germany and brought them when he est thanks, was a beautiful tank and cabinet came to talk at the Convention in February. made and donated by one of our members They were then a little over one inch long (25 from Newcastle, Arthur Grogan. mm) but had now grown to about two and a half inches (65 mm) and were looking in really April : The first of our group activity meet good shape). A trio of Rineloricaria lati ings, where members bring along a nominated rostris, (1 x o and 2 x ~ ) and a pair of the species of catfish. This month it was Aspred so-called 'Red lizard' Rineloricaria sp. There inidae (Banjo's) and our Hon President, were also the obligatory unidentified fish Trevor Morris, did us proud by bringing along a selection of his own fish to see and talk The open discussion and a break for the cus about. He gave us an in depth insight into tomary 'Pie & Peas', was followed by a slide their needs, explaining the individual require presentation of whiptails by member Danny ments of each of the species on show, the Blundell . Slides were also provided by other best environment, water condition and feeding members, including some showing us the true habits. When Trevor had completed his talk, I natural habitat of these fishes, in some cases think we would all be confident in being able from just two inches (50 mm) of water with up to keep these strange and wonderful looking to three feet (1 metre) of mud and debris . catfishes in the best possible condition . IF
2 CAf CIIAf Vol1 No 2 June 2000 Synodontis galinae By Harro Hieronimus From "Aquarium" issue# 2, 1998, pp. 4-5 We received these interesting catfish by chance, they came together in a box with some specimens of Synodontis eupterus which had been caught in 1985 in the White Nile. At that time it were still subsadult fish, and the differences between the two species were not as striking. The only difference was that the S. galinae looked somewhat lighter than the other fish. But at that time we thought that this was the result of stress during the transport- the colours may change through that slightly. But during the growth of both species the differences become more and more striking . The body of S. gali nae was rather massive, but the head remained small and little more flat at the tip of mouth. The "sailfin" dor sal was not directed as directly to the top as in the other species and the last ray was somewhat longer and "looked" downward . The caudal fin shows the large serrations typical for the species. The pectoral fin muscles were very strong so that the catfish could hold against strong current. Normally the mature female is chased by several A very special feature of this species - colouration. The males through the aquarium. The reproduction can be purple body colour and the fins with dots in the colour stimulated with fresh , soft water and an increased tem "Bordeaux red" are typical. perature. The fry are active during the night, therefore the lighting must be not too strong, better very weak. Synodontis galinae Kochetov sp.nov. attain maturity with their 3rd year of life. The body length reaches from Adult fishes inhabit a certain territory and keep close to 9 to 15 cm and varies. The females are not as slender various hiding places like caves, grottos, tubes, etc. as the males, and the colouration of the males is much But they are absolutely peaceful to other fish species more intensive. in the aquarium. "With the mouth to the top", i.e. upside-down, the fish "migrate" rather rarely, generally only while searching for food. With the help of the swim-bladder the fish can produce rather loud sounds. With the help of the pec toral fins - additional crackling and squeaking. In na ture these fish can produce weak electrical impulses which may be very useful in turbid water.
Translation from Russian to German: 0. Grineva To produce offspring the fish were treated with hy Translation from German to English: H. Hieronimus pophyse hormone suspension of the European catfish This text cannot produce any systematic impact and (Silurus glanis). Afterwards the eggs were fertilized may only be used for exclusively private purposes. with sperms with the so called "dry" method. The fe There is no guarantee that this translation is correct. male was 14 cm long and produced 700 eggs. But Editors Note: Since receiving this article from Harro, only in 5% of the eggs fertilization had been success there have been a number of suggestions on the inter ful. The egg development lasted 24 hours at a water net that this fish is in fact, Synodontis eupterus. No temperature of 2rc. Starting at their third day of life doubt the rumble in the jungle will continue until some the larvae started to feed on white mosquito larvae. one proves the right or the wrong of it.
3 CAr CHAr Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
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4 C'Af C'ftAf Vol 1 No 2 June 2000 The Catfishes of Asia Family Bagridae part two By R. Shane Linder
In this article we continue our review of the family Ba The Pseudomystus bumblebee catfishes are all very gridae. The first installment in the series covered the beautiful. The body is a velvet black highlighted with genera: Batasio, Chandramara, Rama, Pe/teobagrus, bands of white or off-white. These catfishes are noc and Hya/obagrus. This series is not meant to be a turnal , but with a little patience, they can be condi comprehensive review of the family Bagridae, but tioned to accept food when the aquarium lights are on. rather a general overview of the genera that are im it is a good idea to condition nocturnal catfishes to do ported for the aquarium hobby with some frequency. this because it is often the only time that you will see The entire series has been updated for the new millen them and be able to observe their health. Pseudomys nium. tus, like some doradids, have a way of disappearing in a tank only to be found months later when you decide Perhaps a better title for this piece would be "Beauties to rearrange the tank. and Beasts." In this article we look at what are not only some of the most beautiful catfishes in the hobby, Like many catfishes, it is imperative that they are fed but also the hands-down meanest freshwater fishes properly and not left to live off of only what they can known. The beauties belong to the genera Leiocassis, scrounge up in the aquarium. The hobbyist should Pseudomystus, Bagrichthys and Horabagrus. The also be aware that Pseudomystus are efficient preda beasts are members of the genera Hemibagrus and tors and will consume fishes up to half of their size. If 0/yra. your tank is missing a couple of tetras or barbs, the bumblebee catfish is almost certainly your culprit. In Mo's 1991 work he followed Jayaram's 1968 sug These fishes do well in a community set up, but each gestion and divided the genus Leiocassis between individual will need its own cave as they can be quite Leiocassis and Pseudomystus. This division has been territorial amongst their own kind . Aggression is often accepted most subsequent authors (Kottelat et al, displayed by biting another Pseudomystus' caudal fin . 1993, Ng & Rachmatila, 1999, Tan & Ng, 2000). That Damaged caudal-fins are a sure sign that there are not said, there are still some serious problems with this enough retreats for all of the fish to live comfortably division . Mo, 1991 attempted to define Leiocassis as a together. All Pseudomystus can be sexed in the typi Southeast Asian genus and stated that Chinese Leio cal bagrid fashion and the males' genital papilla is cassis examined by him actually belonged to the north even more distinct than in many other bagrids. Asian genera Pe/teobagrus or Pseudobagrus. Unfor tunately, a few Russian and Chinese authors have re Both the bumblebees and false bumblebees can be cently placed some Russian and Chinese catfish in found in creeks and rivers throughout Borneo, Thai Leiocassis. This complicates the topic as now Leio land, Sumatra, Java, and Malaya. Although they come cassis is composed of an inter-related group of South from normally soft acidic waters they can easily adapt east Asian species and an inter-related group of north to almost any water conditions provided the extremes Asian species. However, these two groups, in the are avoided. There have been no recorded spawning same genus, are distantly related to each other. Most successes, but I have come very close to inducing of the species familiar to the aquarium hobby have spawning on a number of occasions. The main keys now been placed in Pseudomystus. are to separate the sexes, raise the temperature, and feed high protein foods. When the females are gravid The genus Pseudomystus still needs some serious simulate a monsoon season with large cool water attention . In the past it has been used to group to changes and the addition of a great amount of aera gether nearly all of the "bumble bee-patterned" cat tion. fishes of Southeast Asia. The hobby has done the same in that all of these fishes are sold under the The genus Bagrichthys hails from Borneo, Sumatra, name "bumble bee catfish" and nearly always labeled Cambodia, and Thailand . This genus is known to the Pseudomystus siamensis even though there is more hobby primarily because of the black lancer (B. macra than just this one species imported. it is the same canthus) . The genus presently contains six species case with the Pseudomystus stenomus complex, (see table on page ??). B. macracanthus, the only which usually are found under the common name false member of the genus imported, is truly one of the most bumblebee catfish . beautiful fishes in our hobby. The fish is solid velvet
5 CAf CtiiAf Vol1 No 2 June 2000 black with a white mid-axial streak that runs from the a white collar. H. nigricollaris remains a bit smaller at an shoulder to the caudal peduncle. The entire caudal adult length of just under seven inches. fin is a transparent white and develops flowing exten sions with age. The lancer in "black lancer" refers to Now that we have looked at the beauties, let's cover the this fish's disproportionately tall dorsal fin which, beasts. Most of the larger "Mystus" catfishes were when folded down, reaches nearly to the caudal pe moved to the genus Hemibagrus by Mo in 1991. Two of duncle. These fish can be expected to reach an these, the Asian red tail, Hemibagrus wyckioides and the adult standard length of about eight to ten inches but crystal-eyed catfish, Hemibagrus wyckii, are imported for is slow growing and will require a few years to reach the hobby with increasing frequency . Asian red tails this length . used to be quite rare and expensive in our hobby. How ever, many Asian countries have recently begun serious The black lancer is, by nature, very nocturnal. Once aquaculture programs aimed at keeping their nation fed . again though, with some conditioning, the fish can be The large Hemibagrus species have proven ideal for this taught to eat with the lights on and even to feed from and are now being farmed in many Asian nations. A its owner's hand. If the fish is kept in a community byproduct has been that large numbers of young Hemi type tank be sure that it receives an adequate diet. bagrus are now showing up in the aquarium trade. Wild specimens have been caught with worms on a Young Asian red tails in the two to three inch range are hook and line. In the aquarium, bloodworms becoming a common sight in many pet stores. At this (chironomid larvae) are eagerly accepted. These size, the fish's body is nearly black and the tail shows fish are often territorial among their own kind, but as only red highlights. Against the black body, the long with most bagrids, aggression can be severely re white barbels contrast nicely. duced by keeping one male with two or more fe males. Lancers are very adaptable to changes in pH H. wyckioides will reach a maximum standard length of and DH and will thrive as long as extremes are just over three feet (95 cm) (Ng & Rainbooth, 1999: avoided. lt has been suggested that raising the 569). lt is not just their size that makes them beasts, but tank's temperature above 80F for a couple of days also their disposition. In nature, red tails over 12 inches helps lancers to cope with the stress of being moved. are strictly predatory with other fishes accounting for The sexes are easy to distinguish. Not only does the nearly half of their diet. Crustacea and insects make up male possess a genital papilla, but the males' nasal most of the remaining half. Barbs, three spot gouramis, and maxillary barbels are more than twice as long as and even snakeheads (Channa spp.) are all eaten along the females'. with many other fishes. One red tail was even found with the remains of a snake in its stomach. In captivity, The final beauties belong to Horabagrus. Mo's 1991 specimens over four inches will need their own tank as phylogenetic analysis concluded that Horabagrus is they will not tolerate tankmates. Captive care is simple, more closely related to the Asian schilbeids and thus just provide clean water with a good flow from a power Mo excluded this genus from Bagridae. While the head. A couple of large PVC pipes and rounded rocks general arrangement of this series has followed Mo's provide hiding places and complete the set up. Water conclusions, I will deviate in the case of Horabagrus chemistry is of little concern since these fishes often and follow Pethiyagoda and Kottelat (1994: 112) who hunt from the soft acidic waters up-river down to the state that until clearer evidence is available Horaba brackish deltas of the larger Asian rivers. grus should be retained in Bagridae. Horabagrus The crystal-eyed catfish, Hemibagrus wyckii, is also contains just two species: H. brachysoma and H. quite striking . The entire fish is black with white mark nigricollaris. Both species are restricted to India and ings on the caudal and dorsal fins . The eyes are a sky have only very recently become available as regular blue much like those of Panaque suttonorum. H. wy imports. H. brachysoma has been imported as the ckii is capable of attacking animals of its own size. bullseye cat and imperial cat. The coloration is stun Sands (1985: 129) claims that it is the "only freshwater ning and very reminiscent of Mystus bimaculatus. H. fish clearly unafraid of man". In captivity they will reach brachysoma is normally found in brackish estuaries just under two feet standard length. These fish have but adapts readily to freshwater aquariums. This fish tremendous jaw strength. Layley reported that her will reach at least 214 mm SL (8 ~ inches) and is an specimen managed to bite, and nearly flatten, an efficient predator. lt is a fish with a lot of aquarium heater protected by an aluminum sleeve "personality" and, like many larger pimelodids and (1995: 36). A proper set up for a crystal-eyed catfish bagrids, soon becomes a true pet. H. nigricollaris should be similar to what has been recommended for comes from freshwater rivers and lakes. The colora Asian red tail catfishes. One major advantage that the tion is very similar to H. brachysoma but the light Hemibagrus species have over the large South Ameri shoulder markings wrap over the nape (neck) to form can catfishes is that they are less skittish in captivity.
6 CAf CIIJAf Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
The nasty disposition of the Hemibagrus species really Tungting Hu, Shan-si; Shanghai , Suifu, Yachow, Korea; cannot be over exaggerated. lt has been my experi Russia: Amur, Ussuri, & Sungari Rivers, Khanka Lake ence that a fairly small Hemibagrus will terrorize even Notes: Jayaram 1968: 338 points out that reports of this larger aggressive catfishes. I have read accounts of species far south of its normal range, such as reports from Shanghai, may represent another species. smaller Hemibagrus destroying large predatory pimelodids in short order. I even met one aquarist that Pseudomystus Jayaram, 1968 placed a 12-inch Hemibagrus wyckioides in a very Pseudomystus bicolor (Fowler, 1934) Thailand large tank (over many THOUSAND gallons) with two Pseudomystus breviceps (Regan, 1913) North Sumatra two-foot channel catfish (lctalurus punctatus). Even in Pseudomystus flavipinnis Ng & Rachmatika, 1999 Borneo: this large tank both Channel catfish were killed on the Kapaus basin first night with the Hemibagrus. Pseudomystus fuscus (Popta, 1904) Borneo, Sumatra, & Malaya This same excessive aggressiveness is found in the Pseudomystus inornatus (Boulenger, 1839) Borneo members of the bagrid genus 0/yra. 0/yra has been Pseudomystus /eiacanthus (Weber & Beaufort, 1912) Ma considered for many years as the sole genus of the laya: Lake Chin Chin, Johore, Kota Tinggi, Malacca, Mawaii, family Olyridae. However, Mo's 1991 phylogenetic River Plus; Sumatra: Faloek, River Kwantum analysis of the family showed that 0/yra is a highly Pseudomystus mahakamensis (Vaillant, 1902) Borneo and specialized member of Bagridae. Mo recognized Olyra East Sumatra as the sister group of the lineage comprising Bagrus, Pseudomystus moeschii (Boulenger, 1890) Sumatra Aorichthys, Mystus, and Hemibagrus. These fish re Pseudomystus myersi ( Roberts, 1989) Borneo semble small elongate Hemibagrus and are known as Pseudomystus robustus (lnger & Chin, 1959) Borneo: Kina batangan River fighting catfish. In Asia 0/yra are placed in small Pseudomystus rugosus (Regan, 1913) Sumatra & Borneo aquaria to battle against each other in much the same Pseudomystus siamensis (Regan, 1913) Thailand: River way as Betta. Money is bet on the outcome of the bat Bangpakong, River Chantabun, Menam Chao Phya, Doi tle . 0/yra have been imported on a few occasions, but Angka, Menam Khan, Meklong, Mewang, Menam Mun, the results are inevitably the same. Only one fish sur River Nontaburi, Pak Jong, Menam Tadi, Menam Tapi, vives import per bag after killing off the other 0/yra Trang; Cambodia, Laos shipped with it. Pseudomystus stenomus (Valenciennes, 1840) Thailand, Cambodia, Java, Sumatra This article would not be complete without mentioning Pseudomystus sp. undet Noted by Roberts, 1989 Borneo the responsibility that a hobbyist incurs when they pur Pseudomystus vail/anti (Regan, 1913) Borneo chase one of these large predators. Give some seri Bagrichthys Bleeker, 1858 ous thought to the long term care of these animals be fore you purchase one. Are you going to want to keep Bagrichthys hypselopterus (Sleeker, 1852) Borneo: River a 200 to 300 gallon aquarium with only one fish in it? Kapaus, Sintang; Sumatra: Djambi, Palembang, River Whether you prefer to keep the beauties or beasts, Mussi, River Rokan there is no doubt that this family has a lot to offer any Bagrichthys macracanthus (Sleeker, 1854) Cambodia, Thai land, Sumatra, & Borneo aquarist. Next time we will explore the genus complex Bagrichthys macropterus (Sleeker, 1853) Cambodia, Thai genus "Mystus". land, Sumatra, & Borneo Bagrichthys micranodus Roberts, 1989 Borneo Below are the valid species, as of April 2000 for the Bagrichthys obscurus Ng, 2000 lndochina above genera with the exception of Hemibagrus, which Bagrichthys vail/antii (Popta, 1906) Borneo: Mahakam River is currently under revision by Ng Heok Hee at the Na drainage tional University of Singapore. Horabagrus Jayaram, 1955 Leiocassis Bleeker, 1858 Horabagrus brachysoma (Gunther, 1864) Southern India in Leiocassis brashnikowi (Berg, 1907) China & Siberia: Amur, estuaries Onon, Ussuri, & Sungari Rivers & Lake Hanka Horabagrus nigricol/aris Pethiyagoda & Kottelat, 1994 Leiocassis herzensteini (Berg, 1907) River Amur, River Southern India Onon, River Yalu Leiocassis hirsutus Herre, 1934 China 0/vra McCielland, 1842 Leiocassis micropogon (Sleeker, 1852) Sumatra, Borneo, 0/yra burmanica Day, 1872 Burma: Pegu Yomas Malaya 0/yra horae (Prahad & Muderji, 1929) Burma: lndawgyi Leiocassis poeci/opterus (Valenciennes, 1840) Borneo, Su Lake & India: Menghayala State matra, Thailand, Java, & Burma Leiocassis saravacensis Boulenger, 1893 Borneo 0/yra kempi Chaudhuri, 1912 India: Assam Leiocassis ussuriensis (Dybowski, 1872) China: Hunan, 0/yra /ongicaudata McCielland, 1842 India: Assam
7 C:Ar C:ftAr Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
References Riehl R. and Baensch H. A. 1996. "Aquarium Atlas Ill" (Tetra valid species of bagrid catfish from eastern Borneo Press) 1104pp., (Teleostei: Siluriformes). Zoologische Mededelingen. Finley, L. 1995. Catfish Corner: Bagrichthys macracanthus: Ng, H. H. & Tan, H. H., 1999. The fishes of the Endau drain- The Black lancer catfish. TFH Magazine Vol XLIII No. 10: age, Peninsular Malaysia with descriptions of two new spe- 134-139. cies of catfishes (Teleostei: Akysidae, Bagridae). Zoological Studies 38: 350-366. Jayaram K. C. 1968. Contributions to the study of bagrid catfishes (Siluroidea: Bagridae) 3: A systematic account of Ng H. H. & I. Rachmatika. 1999. The catfishes (Teleostei : the Japanese, Chinese, Malayan, and Indonesian genera. Siluriformes) of Bentuang Karimun National Park, West Kali Treubia . Vol. 27 (2-3) : 287-386. mantan, Indonesia. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 47(1): 167-183. Jayaram, K. C. 1981 . The freshwater fishes of India, Paki stan, Bangladesh, Burma, and Sri Lanka: A handbook. Zoo Ng H. H. & W. J. Rainbooth. 1999. The bagrid catfish genus logical Survey of India, Calcutta, xxii + 475pp., 13pls. Hemibagrus (Teleostei: Siluriformes) in central lndochina with a new species from the Mekong River. The Raffles Bul Jayaram, K. C. 1999. The freshwater fishes of the Indian letin of Zoology 47(2): 555-576. region (Delhi: Narendra Publishing House). 551pp., 18 pis. Pethiyagoda R. & M. Kottelat. 1994. Three new species of Khan M. S. et al. "Food and Feeding Biology of a Tropical fishes of the genera Osteochilichthys, Travancoria and Freshwater Catfish, Mystus nemurus C. & V. With Refer Horabagrus from the Chalakudy River, Kerala, India. J. ence to its Functional Morphology'' (My copy of this paper is South Asian nat. Hist. Vol. 1 No. 1: 97-116. a photocopy lacking appropriate citation information) Roberts T. R. 1989. The freshwater fishes of western Bor Kottelat, M., Whitten, A.J. , Kartikasari, S. N. and Wirjoat neo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Mem. California Acad. modjo S., 1993. Freshwater Fishes of Western Indonesia Sci. , 14: 1-210. and Sulawesi (Hong Kong: Periplus Editions), 221 pp ., 84 pis. Sands, D. 1985. Catfishes of The World Volume 5 Bagridae and Others (Denure Enterprises) 200pp. Layley, D. 1995 "Love at First Bite" Practical Fishkeeping Magazine November: 36-37. Talwar P. K. & A. G. Jhingran 1991(2). Inland Fishes of In dia and Adjacent Countries. Oxford & IBH Pub. Co., New Mo, T. 1991 . Anatomy, Relationships, and Systematics of Delhi, 2 vols. the Bagridae (Teleostei: Siluridae) With a Hypothesis of Tan H. H. & H. H. Ng. 2000. The catfishes (Teleostei: Siluri Siluroid Phylogeny (Koeltz Scientific Books) 216pp., 63pls. formes) of central Sumatra. Journal of Natural History 34: Ng, H. H., 1999. Bagrichthys obscurus, a new species of 267-303. bagrid catfish from lndochina (Teleostei: Bagridae). Revista Zakaria-lsmail, M. 1991. "Notes on the Catfish, Bagrichthys de Biologia Tropical 47: 537-543. macracanthus (Pisces: Bagridae) from Peninsular Malaysia" Ng, H. H., in press. Bagrichthys vail/antii (Popta, 1906), a Malaysia Nature Journal 46: 35-39 Forthcoming Meetings Don't forget your 16 July Pimelodidae ANNUAL Table Show, Slides, Speaker 13 Aug Mochkidae AUTUMN AUCTION Table show, Slides, Speaker 19 NOVEMBER 2000 At 10 Sep Annual Open Show St Elizabeth's Parish Hall Aspull Civic Hall, Bolton Road Aspull As pull Wig an. Wig an (on the 85238) Doors Open 1000 hrs Doors open: 1000 Benching: 1030 Judging: 1300 Lots may be pre-booked by 'phone (01942 248130) Auction Booking in from 1100 hrs on the day. Lots may be pre-booked by telephone (01942 248130) Auction starts 1300 hrs prompt Booking in from 1030 Auction starts 1230 All day Canteen 8 CA1' CHA1' Vol1 No 2 June 2000 Breeding Corydoras melanotaenia By Mark Bryson
First described by Regan in 1912, Corydoras feet which allowed the fish a hiding place and some melanotaenia originates from Rio Manacacias, a tribu security as I found them to be very skittish. tary of the Rio Meta and from various other locations, in Colombia. Body colour is bronze with a yellowish The fish were fed at least twice daily on a mixed diet of live white worm, grindal worm, Tetra Prima & Tetra sheen. What catches your eye are the clean fins with bright golden/orange colouration. This colour is more Tabi Min. pronounced when the fish are in good condition or The fish were kept in these conditions, until the 4th July ready for breeding. 1999, when I re-located their tank to a higher position I bought the fish on 6th March 1999, on one of our club in the fish hut, which automatically increased the tem raiding trips south of the border, at Huddersfield Aquat perature by two degrees because of the space heating. ics. This is an excellent outlet that caters mainly for I let things settle down for three weeks and then de wild caught cichlids and catfish species. I purchased cided to have a go at getting them to breed. (it's the four male (3.5 cm) and two female melanotaenia, ap same old story of when you talk to other aquarists who proximately 5 cm body size for what I thought was a say they have bred Corydoras melanotaenia years and bargain at £2.50 each. years ago without any problems but they never really enlighten you as to how they did it). I returned home and set them up in a 45 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm quarantine tank . Temperature 22c pH 6.5. Fil I was did my weekly 25% water changes to all my tration was by air operated Bio 45 sponge and a cor tanks but I carried out a 40% change to the melanotae ner box filled with ceramic pipes and crushed coral nia tank using water straight from the domestic supply (this prevents the pH from dropping too low). The tank pH 8.3, temperature below 16C. Fortunately this had included a small glass trough filled with fine sand and no adverse effect on the fish. Quite the reverse be was planted heavily with Java fern. Java moss was cause 72 hours later (29th July) they spawned. The weighed down and placed on top of a piece of slate water parameters at time of spawning were Temp 20c, (10 cm x 15 cm). On the slate I had attached small pH 6.9.
9 C'Af C'I:IAI' Vol1 No 2 June 2000
Spawning into larger tanks (20 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm) with a Bio Day 1. foam 45 sponge filter added. Feeding started with mi cro worm . Prior to each feeding a 50% water change The first eggs I found were when I went out to the fish was done using water from the main breeding tank. hut to feed the fish at 6.30 pm. Eggs are ivory in col Day 7. our and measure 1.5 mm. These had been placed at two different sites within the tank . All fry were looking well and feeding now was alter Site 1 was on the front glass about 3 cm from the wa nated between micro worm and newly hatched brine ter surface approximately 150 placed in a group 3 cm shrimp. I ensured that a 50% water change was car in diameter with the eggs on top of each other in the ried out prior to each feeding. same manner that Corydoras barbatus lay their eggs. Day 10. Site 2 had double the quantity of eggs, the only differ I transferred the fry to 30 cm x 20 cm x 20 cm tanks ence being that some of the eggs were caught up in and they were fed as much brine shrimp as they could some Java moss and only 10 cm from the bottom of eat with a few feedings of grindal worm. Water the tank. changes were increased accordingly. For the purpose of this experiment I divided the eggs Day 14. into three separate show tanks with water from the All fry were moved into the same tank (45 cm x 45 cm x breeding tank. An airline was added with slow turn 30 cm) . I stopped feeding brine shrimp and concen over to give slight water movement and treated as fol trated on feeding grindal worms, Tetra Prima and Tetra lows: Tabi Min. The fry were now beginning to look like the Site 1 spawning (surface) small amount of methylene adults, the only difference being the fins had not col blue was added and then removed after 30 minutes by oured up. a 95% water change using water from the breeding Day 30. tank. All fry were moved to 1015 cm x 45 cm x 30 cm tank. Site 2 spawning (bottom) I divided into two separate Trickle filter filled with ceramic pipes and crushed coral tanks and labelled them Site 2 and 3. powered by Fluval 4 internal filter. it is a very reward Site 2 eggs were left as they were with nothing added ing sight to watch up to 300 Corydoras fry moving to the water. about the bottom of the tank on the lookout for food. Site 3 methylene blue was added and left for 12 hours Summary, and then a 95% water change was done the following I normally like to keep eggs and fry with the parent fish. morning using water from the breeding tank. I believe fry grow faster in that environment. On this Day 2. occasion I was quite glad that I did remove most of the All eggs had now changed colour to light tan, some eggs because I have never seen a single fry in the par were eyeing-up. Only six eggs fungused in all of the ents tan k. I know I didn't manage to remove all the show tanks. These were removed . eggs at the beginning therefore, from my experience Day 3. with C. melanotaenia, I have observed that they are egg and/or fry eaters. 10 am. I carried out a water change to all three tanks after I removed a total of six white fungused eggs. As to the experiment with methylene blue, I'm not too sure what to do about that for the best. I think I'll stick Day4. to the method of breeding corys that I have used quite 90% water change was carried out in all small tanks. successfully fo r the last few years, only changing things Again I removed a couple of bad eggs. By the evening if the fish are a new species to me . If I do happen to most of the eggs had hatched get them to spawn, I normally remove most of the egg s Day 5. and hatch them in the manner which I have written I carried out water changes to all tanks and removed about, until I know the adults are not going to eat the any shells or dead fry. The fry from lot 2 had started to eggs or fry. die off and this had a knock on effect. By the time I ©Mark Bryson can be contacted by e-mail
10 • Pumps Filters • Accessories With 20 years • Tanks experience, we can not • Food only provide you with • Lighting everything you need, we can give help and advice on most aspects of keeping fish C'Af C'tiAf Vol 1 No 2 June 2000 MEET THE MEMBERS lan Fuller The Hon Chair of the Catfish Study Group (UK)
My introduction to fish keeping started in eight species, wh ich include a pair of Rinelori 1972 when I was given a small eighteen-inch caria sp . that have just produced a small batch aquarium, which in a very short space of time of fry and so far I have counted ten youngsters . I was filled to capacity, in fact the fish had to also have two pair of Tatia perugiae, which I queue up to get food. lt was not long before I shall be attempting to breed when they have had several larger aquariums and keeping grown a little larger. I also have a group of ten many varieties of fish including three or for Eutropiellus buffei that I shall be attempting to species of Corydoras. breed in the near future. To complete my list Other aquatic interests that occupied much of there is a group of five Dianema urostriata , three my spare time in those days included competing females and two males, the females are all or judging at fish shows. In the late 1970's I be plumped up and looking ready to burst and the came an 'A' class judge for the Federation of males are also looking superb with bright red British Aquatic Societies and then later for the pectoral and ventral fin spines, but I have yet to Association of Aquarists, These days I only find the trigger that induces them to spawn. judge Corydoras and give occasional talks on their keeping and breeding . CATFISH UP-DATES My first experience of breeding Corydoras came in early 197 4, when I bought six Corydoras pyg maeus. When I returned home with the fish there Corydoras was a problem in the tank they were to be New species Corydoras spectabi/is (Knaack, 1999). housed in , at this time I still only had the one (Looks very much like Corydoras haraldschultzi but tank in the living room , which was a thirty-six inch home made bow fronted unit. The tank was with a large black caudal peduncle blotch). in need of some repairs so the newly acquired Corydoras bondi bondi is now Corydoras sipa/iwini Corydoras pygmaeus had to be housed in a four inch show jar for a few days. The water in the jar (Hoedeman, 1965) was changed twice daily. On the morning of the Corydoras bondi (Gosline, 1940) remains but this fish third day when I went to change the water, I could see eggs stuck to the sides of the jar. The comes from Venezuela adults were removed and placed into another jar. Corydoras coppenamensis (Nijssen, 1970) is raised to Twenty of the fry were successfully raised to adulthood and formed part of further breeding full species status from stocks. Corydoras cortesi (Castro, 1987) is a synonym of The success with the Corydoras pygmaeus Corydoras septentrionalis. started me off on what has turned out to be a life long project, and over the past twenty-six years I Corydoras blochi (Nijssen, 1971) is raised to full spe have successfully bred and raised more than cies status. si xty species . During this time I have also kept and bred many other species of fish but my first Corydoras vittatus (Nijssen, 1971) is raised to full spe love has always been Corydoras. So much so cies status. that my fish house was designed and purpose built to breed and raise these fabulous little fish . Corydoras pastazensis orcesi (Weitzman & Nijssen, In recent months my catfish interest has ex 1970) is now the same as Corydoras pastazensis panded into a few other catfish groups, namely (Weitzman, 1963) the smaller Loricarid species. I have around
12 CAJ' CltAJ' Vol1 No 2 June 2000
CAifF~SII Sift~OF C80fl. I~~-~ coavgar~•• zeee •••••r by Clare Dignall
February 2000 saw the first Convention for the Catfish Study Group, however, it is the second year run ning that there has been a Catfish convention at the Lowton Civic Centre, Lowton, near Wigan, Lanca shire and it's easy to see why. The site affords the space needed for trade stands and displays, audio visual equipment for the guest speakers and seating for both listening and eating in comfort. There was a small but impressive selection of fish on sale that day, responsible in fact for some rival buying amongst friends present. The Civic Centre is an ideal venue and the saintly ladies in the kitchen were even able to keep appetites at bay with welcome cups of steaming tea and their celebrated pie and peas served virtually all day. lngo Seidel and Hans-Georg Evers had fiown from Brazil, drawing heavily on his own, first hand experi Germany to speak at the Convention, beginning the ence of catching these fish in the wild. He was able to new Millennium with some imported knowledge and describe a broad spectrum of fishes and their various fresh insights. lt was here that my husband Julian, habitats from the newly described Aspidoras of the (AKA Jools of www.planetcatfish.com), and I, were to Upper Xingu, through to the Rio Negro and south east meet lngo and Hans, finally putting faces to some Brazil explaining how their origin affects the needs of weeks of e-mail correspondence. Both Jools and I each species in captivity. His insights into breeding admitted that, judging by their substantial achieve behaviours and problems of nomenclature all came ments to date, we'd been expecting people far older. with the clear sightededness of one who has held Somewhat humbled, I don't think we were the only those very fish in his hands, netted in home waters. ones inwardly resolving to 'get the finger out'. On his first visit to the UK, for the Convention, lngo's At the CSG (UK) Convention 2000, Hans was first to talk was on the subject matter of Loricariids, the focus take the podium and guide us, with stunning photogra being primarily on the sub-family ancistrinae. This took phy, through a selection of catfish and their habitats of the form of a structured exploration of physiological
13 CAf CtiiAf Vol 1 No 2 June 2000 patterning in relation to habitat; drawing parallels pri one of his main aims is to spend much more time on marily between water type , pH and dentition. He also the study of mouth breeding Loricariids. So far, Hans highlighted the different climates found above, on and has successfully bred upwards of 200 species and below the equator, drawing conclusions about water confesses that he purchases fish only to breed - he temperature and constancy (diurnal and seasonal), keeps no fish simply for pleasure. describing the effects of these on practical fish keeping at home. His lucid descriptions of diet and Hans is an accomplished author, and has put his name dentition, primary and secondary sexual dimorphism, to more than 300 articles in the States, Japan and illuminated perhaps not new information but broke it Germany. His three books to date are on Corydoras, into logical patterns that anyone could understand and Community tank husbandry and Piscine Biology. He learn from. Along with his excellent slides, the fact that has collaborated on many more and is a prolific pho many of these species had been spawned by lngo tographer. was, perhaps, the most impressive aspect of the talk . How did lngo and Hans meet? His closing shot of Hypancistrus Zebra, father and son (or as pointed out, mother and daughter) would have "I was giving a lecture on Loricariids in Hamburg," melted any heart. Hans explains, "and only four people turned up. lngo was one of them! lngo visited me one week later, and lngo and Hans, always an entertaining double act, also as I was in the midst of my Cory book I was able to give the final talk of the day which kept both speakers pass him all my information and pictures on Loricariids on their toes and described a few 'oddballs' of the cat in the meantime. That was back in 1990, and we have fish world. This ranged from spawning S. petricola to been working together since." examples of South American catfishes that fit the same ecological niches as occupied by their similarly A favourite specimen? evolved counterparts in Asia. This was a catalogue of the visually weird and wonderful. Take the Snake Both swiftly agree: "Furcodontichthys novaesi. Its to Banjo, that can roll up in self defence, or play dead like tally different from anything you will ever find . it's a a leaf before burying itself; this species of Amaralia great fish but ugly- you'll see it later when we speak." lives exclusively on a diet of cichlid eggs, or even the yet more macabre Homodiaetus maculatus with vam lngo Seidel pirical tendencies .. .chilling stuff. lngo Seidel is 33 and is a software developer for an The convention also gave us the opportunity to find out electronics company in Bremen, Germany. He has more about this years speakers and we can share that successfully spawned some 70 species of Loricariid with you in the following articles. and about 35 Corys, a number confessed with the Hans-Georg Evers same humility as he apologises for his (excellent) Eng lish. He maintains about 60 aquaria in a cellar at Hans-Georg Evers is 36 and works in the Logistics home. These range in size from small tanks to 450 Department of a trading company in Hamburg. At litres capacity: In his words,"! don't have anything home, he has a fish room of some 15 square metres, really big." With 60 tanks to care for, lngo relies much housing 30 aquaria, which, in his self-deprecatory on automation . He has to, with a 9 to 5 job, writing to words, is "not many fish at do, photos to take, fish to tend and a private life to fit in all". He has kept fish since somewhere else. He speaks fondly of his first excur he was 11 years of age, sions into fishkeeping. "I was 13 years old , and my and reminisces about the first fish were guppies. Then in 1982 I saw a spawning defining moment of that development. When Hans report on Corydoras panda in DATZ. That was the first saw a picture of Cory turning point for me - I had to have that fish. it cost 50 doras adolfoi in TFH, he marks, and I was still a schoolboy. it took me two knew he had to have it. He years of saving my pocket money, before I went out Hans -Georg Evers did so, and even now, his and bought it my parents didn't know a thing. My first
L------""""'---',, - affection for this particular catfish was Corydoras davidsandsi, which I managed species is apparent. His to spawn when I was still18 years old. That too was a later talk dwells, fascinated, on the problems of distinc very expensive fish for me to buy at that time of my tion between it and the imitators of the Rio Negro. He life, having just left school, but I managed it." has specific interest in Corydoras and L-numbers, and
14 CAI' CteAf Vol1 No 2 June 2000
The most significant event of your career? A telling measure of the detail found within its covers is that both writers have more than 15 years' experience "Definitely spawning the Zebra pleco. My first suc of keeping Loricariids, and have a near endless list of cessful spawning of this species was an extremely im contacts world-wide. Importers, right from Germany portant moment for me. That was in 1996. Also, and the Netherlands to "darkest Peru" are in frequent spawning the lipbrooders Loricaria simillima and Pseu communication. Contributors like Lee Finley from the dohemiodon /aticeps ." US also add their vast experience of South America, Where have your interests taken you? as well as contributing pictures. Scientists provide ex clusive pictures and data on those fish whose habitats lngo counts the visits: "Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Bo are inaccessible, such as those to be found on Table livia ... Brazil was definitely my favourite location. The Mountain in Venezuala. The book has pictures and Central Amazon has the most interesting Loricariids to insights into fish that no one else has. I ask Hans be found anywhere. There, and in the Upper Negro, about the publishing environment in Germany and the you can find really colourful fish - the stuff there is titles available to the serious aquarist and writer. amazing. "We have 6 magazines each with a circulation of How much of the year is dedicated to travel? around 10 to 12,000. Two of these are monthly and "I travel once every year to South America for three the rest are either bi-monthly or quarterly." The oppor weeks. On top of that, I do maybe 20 to 25 lectures a tunities for quality writing and the dissemination of in year. These are in places like Switzerland , Norway, formation are many. Hans adds "These magazines all and Copenhagen ... This is carry excellent pictures, and are constantly on the my first time in the UK . I am lookout for more, they are always pestering me for constantly amazed by the photos." progress each country is .------making . lt has been great to come over, because we never hear anything about CATFISH FROM the achievements of aquar ists in the UK, so I've been WORLD WAR 1 totally surprised by the great work that is going on here. I This is the catfish I '-----'-"== ---' lt is a pity that there is such poor communication between the two countries, and so little exchange of skills and ideas. Perhaps now, we can change that." Catfish Atlas lngo Seidel and Hans-Georg Evars are the co authors of a new Catfish Atlas, the first of three vol Trevor Morris found a picture of a warship and noted umes. I asked Hans how they manage to work to the resemblance to a certain catfish . gether as authors? "We telephone each other sev eral times a week, and email for the remainder of He asks "Is this just a coincidence or do you think that black and white camouflage protects catfish from that time. We are 130 km apart- not too far if we really have to spend some time working together on enemy aircraft?" a piece." The Aquarium Atlas was begun 4 years If you have any inside knowledge, please don't tell ago; the partnership confesses meekly to being two lngo Seidel. He may want to try and breed them. years behind schedule, but lngo is vehement: "Publication in 2001; definitely!" This is no small I This is the warship I authorial feat, as the first volume alone runs to some 1200 pages and pictures. Sounds impressive, but what will be the benefits for the aquarist? "This will be a vital resource," explains Hans, "offering exhaustive information on the identification of and breeding behaviour of fish."
15 tJete o1- tk 7f!O'dd4 L~ A~ & Pet~ Always A Huge Selection 01 Fish From All Over The World ! We are keen to supply the fish that people want. We try to stock as much variety as possible and we constantly investigate new suppliers and - sources for rare and unusual fish. And just to make your visit worthwhile, you will also find * Vast Dry Goods * Aquarium Furniture * our own OATA approved Red Sea Aquariums * Pond and Water Garden Products * Coldwater Fish * Marine Fish * Aquarium Plants * House Plants * Large Pet Department* Gift Shop * In Store Cafe * Vending Machines * Large Free Car Park And BASAngUng one of the North West's Premier Angling Centres. BRITAINS AQUATIC SUPERSTORE LTD ZZS FOLDS ROAD BOLTON BL~ZTW Tel: (01204) 534343 *Fax: (01204) 364174 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.britains-aquatic.co.uk CAf CltiAf Vol1 No 2 June 2000
THE FROGMOUTH CATFISH Chaca chaca (Hamilton 1822) By Alan Holmes
Chaca chaca: Common name the frogmouth catfish, originate from Borneo, Burma, Sumatra and the Ganges-Brahmaputra drainage of India and Bangladesh. lt was first discovered in 1822 by Hamilton, and then introduced in about 1938. The family of Chacidae consists of only one genus, that of Chaca, and of this three species belong to the Chaca genus, Chaca bankanensis, Sleeker 1852; Chaca burmensis, and Ferraris 1 and as alrea mentioned Chaca Hamilton 1822.
The base colour of the Chaca is a light to dark brown This nocturnal species is supposed to only be mottled in places along the entire length of the body, active when feeding, this I have found to be so whereas the underbelly has a reddish/brown tinge . sometimes incorrect. As the Chaca that I have The fins are similarly coloured to the general body col can be quite active during the day, this may be our, dorsal and pectoral fins are small whereas the moving from one position to another and gener ally moving around the tank, but it is not totally ventral fins are large fan like fins . The eyes are very inactive all day . lt has a preference to bury itself small whereas the ventral fins are large fan like fins. beneath the gravel and sometimes the only way The eyes are very small, and almost appear to be on you can see where it is, is by the movement of stalk like protuberances. I am still a little uncertain as the gravel on its gill covers . to whether they have good eyesight, as they appear to ignore foods offered in front of them and yet, at other Some species of fish that are quite small to medium sized are at risk from the Chaca whilst they rest and times will snap something up in the blink of an eye. this I can well imagine to be true. The Chaca forages The pectoral and dorsal fin spines on Chaca's are around the tank on a night, and will no doubt tackle stated as short and sharp enough to inflict serious fish this size, and larger when they are hungry. damage. In the wild, Chaca chaca bury themselves in the mud, it is not uncommon for fishermen to re Water conditions are about standard, they appear ceive wounds from stepping on them, there is, how to have no special requirements, they are reputed ever, no reports of venom in the spines. The to tolerate variances from pH 6 to pH 8, so there is Chaca has four short widely spaced barbels at the a fair amount of tolerance from acidic to alkaline corners of its mouth and under its chin. The lateral (though not in one go). Hardness is listed as 40 to line also appears to be very prominent and stands 250 dGH? Various places of refuge are required, out from the body. such as outcrops of slate or rock, large halved plant pots or clay pipes. Plants will not be damaged, but The sexual differences are still a little uncertain for the I have already noticed they have a preference to Chaca but they have been bred in captivity . One bury themselves, so any plants that get in the way amusing footnote I read somewhere was that the fish are uprooted and usually end up as floating plants, is "sometimes predaceous and not suitable for a com unless potted and well covered with a layer of munity aquarium" -well what a surprise! gravel.
17 C'Af C'ftAf Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
There is a difference of opinion as to whether the that the reedfish mainly reside in. Plants are a selec Chaca uses it's barbels in a similar technique to that of tion of cryptocorynes, large vallisneria and Java fern. the Marine Angler Fish, in that they use their maxillary Chaca's live on a diet of crustaceans, fish, earthworms and just about anything foolish enough to get too close to that cavernous mouth. At present the Chaca's I keep are feeding on large earthworms, and tablet food, chopped mackerel; sprats and trout; crickets; meal worms and waxworms. The earthworm cultures I keep for feeding the fish are fed on a variety of tropical flake foods, so I have no problem with the nutritional intake, and the crickets are fend an additional nutrient and barbels around their mouth parts to resemble worms, vitamin diet of the gecko's so everything is well gut or some other aquatic delicacy and entice unsuspect loaded. ing fish near them. Once within reach they suck in the I have also observed on a several occasion's that surrounding water into the cavernous mouth they pos Chaca's do consume algae wafers, they take these sess, and goodbye fish hello lunch. Another train of with great relish, possibly the mixture of algae and fish thought is that they wait in ambush and attack without meal appeal to the fish , either way, they are consumed the use of any barbels. As for my opinion, I remain as soon as they are detected. lt also backs up the the neutral, only the Chaca's or their victims can tell us the ory by other people who believe that the Chaca's may answer to that question! also graze or consume algae. Whichever theory any one believes, I can vouch for the fact that Chaca's ap The Chaca chaca that I now possess are 17 cm (6% preciate algae in their diets. in) in length, and at the broadest point across it's head it measures 6.5 cm (21/2in) . The smaller of the two is They do have a tendency to sit in one position for long 12.5 cm (5in) in length and approximately 5 cm (2 in) periods of time and then move onto somewhere else. across the head. These share accommodation with They also swim in the middle reaches of the aquarium eight Erpetoichthys ca/abaricus (reedfish), all without every now and again, and sometimes have a prefer any problems so far! The two species will be sepa ence for resting on the side of the glass between the rated soon as the reedfish will be going into larger plants. As previously mentioned, they spend a good quarters with , hopefully, another 12 reedfish, and the deal of time buried under the gravel, so tank mainte Chaca's will be kept with a few more of their own kind, nance and gravel siphoning should be done with a little should any make an appearance in the shops. extra caution. The water temperature is 78f (26c) and is at pH 6.9. As I have not experienced any problems with the The substrate is mainly small pea gravel with a light Chaca's, I will keep my eye out for more. Hopefully, I mix of bird sand with the cockle shell sifted out, other may get the conditions as they prefer for breeding, if wise the cockle shell can buffer the water to a slightly so, and I manage to keep a good record of the condi more alkaline level. tions, I will let you know the water parameters and any other influences I think important. Places of refuge are supplied by mopani wood and halved clay pots, there is also a crocus clay plant pot 12.99 References
Riehl, R. & Baensch, HA 1996 "Aquarium Atlas Ill" (Tetra Press) 1104pp Roberts, T.R. A Revision of the South and Southeast Asian Angler-Catfish (Chacidae) (No other details) Sands, D.D. 1986 A Fishkeepers Guide to African & Asian Catfish (Salamander Books) 80pp All Photographs in this article are by kind permission of Erwin Schraml
18 CAf CtllAf Vol1 No 2 June 2000 MEET THE MEMBERS Dave Speed The Membership Secretary of the Catfish Study Group (UK)
I have kept fish since I was of 10 years old, that is dence from the club went astray! (some people will say more years than I care to admit to. I am married to nothing changes). I took over the post of Membership Lois and anyone who knows me, will also know her. Secretary for the NACG, from Trevor (JT) Morris, who We joined the Northern Area Catfish Group, as it was was temporarily doing the job, in late July 1999. I was then, at the British Aquatic Festival in 1995. We live in duly voted into the same role for the Catfish Study Broughton, North Wales, which became known as the Group for the year 2000. My main interest has drifted 2 nd Bermuda triangle because initially, all correspon- towards "showing" fish . I am currently running 15 tanks ranging from a standard 24 x 12 x 12 up to my furnished tank, which resides in our dining room and measures 96 x 22 x 18. My predominant species are Loricariidae (known as L numbers to a lot of people) and Corydoras. Both species "perform" quite well on the show bench because they do not move very much! That's enough about me, I look forward to meeting many of the people whose applications I have proc essed during the course of the year.
Regards to all. Oave Speed
In honour of my favourite fish -- The Coryadorables Cory Cats by Fryguy www.tomgriffin .com
Tiny little whiskers, Each time I have you figured out, upon a podgy face, and alii have discovered, so restlessly exploring, another one unknown to me, each and every place. is suddenly uncovered. Sifting sand and sniffing rocks So many shapes and sizes, constantly inquiring -- Stubby, short or squat, "Is there some treat for me to eat? and coloured as the rainbow, A morsel I'm desiring!" with stripe or bar or spot. Another lap around the tank, Your legendary cuteness, to rummage through your lair, no other fish can boast, and then a dash straight up above, and to your personality to grab a gulp of air. I raise a well earned toast. Armoured plates defend your flank, I gaze upon your dwelling place; and camouflage does hide you, Of all the fish I see -- but still more easily you rest, Tis you and you alone I find, with several friends beside you. that means the most to me.
19 CAI' CIIAI' Vol 1 No 2 June 2000
Data Protection
MEMBERSHIP LIST 2000
Dear Members,
Advice and Information lt is the intention of the Catfish Study Group (UK) to publish a list of all members in Cat Chat, in September 2000. The list will include full details of your name, address, post code and telephone number and/ore-mail address as shown on your Member ship Application Form. This list is intended purely for the purpose of members being able to contact each other in the furtherance of the hobby.
I would like to point out that although the Committee does not pass the addresses to any outside agency, we cannot guarantee the protection of this information once it has been published in the Journal.
I therefore ask any members who do not wish their details to be published, other than their membership number and name, to contact the Secretary, or Membership Secre tary, before the next Cat Chat is published in September 2000.
Secretary Membership Secretary
Bill Hurst Dave Speed 18 Three Pools 7 Oakdale Close Crossens BROUGHTON SOUTH PORT Near Chester PR98RA CH4 OPA
Tel: 01704 213690 01244 534060
Any member found to be misusing the Membership List will be considered to have in fringed the Catfish Study Group (UK) Rules by 'causing offence to other Members'.
Rule 9
"The Committee shall have the right to discontinue the Membership of any Member who behaves in such a manner as to bring the name and/or Member ship of the CSG into disrepute, or who causes offence to other Members".
20 G.B.W
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